WR450 assault on Dakar

[spidennis]

I've researched your oil cooler mods already and will be basing my installation on yours after I get my acerbis 6.6 tank, then I'll know what I got to deal with. You did a great job with your installation and your documentation btw. You are an inspiration to us all!

[mikekay]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42112233@N00/sets/

Check out the pics of thumpertalker sunnymex who is doing well in the rally on his 450 Yamaha Mexico bike, even with a broken foot. One tuff guy!

[spidennis]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42112233@N00/sets/

Check out the pics of thumpertalker sunnymex who is doing well in the rally on his 450 Yamaha Mexico bike, even with a broken foot. One tuff guy!

That has got to be the closest to stock dakar bike I've seen yet! Basically it's what I want, minus a bit the nav gear (insert mapping gps instead) for my TAT inspired rides. Bet he's got an external oil tank there .... just didn't see a close up of that pic yet. Acerbis 6.6 ....... that guy rocks! Viva mexico!

[Seabass]

Coma is out of the race an American Chris Blais is now in third!!?

[fLUNX]

who´s is winning 450 on dakar?

who´s the first Yamaha?

who´s in the first 5 bikers on Dakar??

Portuguese Riders do it better? ehehehehhehehe

I hope he stand that way till the end of the rally.

cya guys.

fLAVIO

[Indy_WR450]

Overall Bikes:

1 - Despres (fra) KTM 690

2 - Casteu (fra) KTM 690

3 - Blais (usa) KTM 690

4 - Ullevalseter (nor) KTM 690

5 - Rodrigues (por) Yamaha WR450

6 - Vinters (lat) KTM 690

7 - Marchini (fra) Yamaha WR450

8 - Bethys (fra) Honda CRF450X

9 - Katrinak (slq) KTM 690

10 - Knuiman (hol) Honda CRF450X

Go Blue!!!

450CC Class Bikes:

1 - Rodrigues (por) Yamaha WR450

2 - Marchini (fra) Yamaha WR450

3 - Bethys (fra) Honda CRF450X

4 - Knuiman (hol) Honda CRF450X

[Indy_WR450]

It is officially over!

Yamaha has finished with 2 in the top 10!

Here is a shot of Marchini on his WR450!

Overall finish:

1 - Despres (fra) KTM 690

2 - Casteu (fra) KTM 690

3 - Blais (usa) KTM 690

4 - Ullevalseter (nor) KTM 690

5 - Rodrigues (por) Yamaha WR450

6 - Vinters (lat) KTM 690

7 - Marchini (fra) Yamaha WR450

8 - Bethys (fra) Honda CRF450X

9 - Katrinak (slq) KTM 690

10 - Czachor (pol) KTM 690

Yamaha wins the 450cc Class! ?

Podium Results:

1 - Rodrigues (por) Yamaha WR450

2 - Marchini (fra) Yamaha WR450

3 - Bethys (fra) Honda CRF450X

[clark4131]

Yamaha wins the 450cc Class! ?

And with a steel-framed dinosaur, no less?

Sorry kids, I couldn't resist ?...SC

[rich1167]

What a true test to the durability and performance of our machines. Congrats to them.?

As a side note:

GO BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Asgeir]

All the 29 WR450F Yamaha´s of Dakar :

http://www.yamaha-racing.com/Racing/dakar/news/newsdetail.jsp?Component=tcm:78-181183&PageTitle=Yamaha%u2019s%20Helder%20Rodrigues%20wins%20450%20class%20in%20Dakar

[Indy_WR450]

The 450 CC winner Rodriguez:?

[rooster wrooster]

You can never have too many of these pics

http://www.yamaha-racing.com/Racing/includes/pressimages.jsp?img=http://images.yamaha-racing.com/photo/high/P20070122153115562.jpg

http://www.yamaha-racing.com/Racing/includes/pressimages.jsp?img=http://images.yamaha-racing.com/photo/high/P20070122163945000.jpg

http://www.yamaha-racing.com/Racing/includes/pressimages.jsp?img=http://images.yamaha-racing.com/photo/high/P20070122164057125.jpg

http://www.yamaha-racing.com/Racing/includes/pressimages.jsp?img=http://images.yamaha-racing.com/photo/high/P20070122164236343.jpg

[RSWR450F]

15 th. overal, 5.position in 450 ccm, Martin Macek Czech Rep. :

http://motozurnal.centrum.cz/dakar/foto.phtml?id=9198

http://www.globalpark.cz/technika.php/

RostaWR

www.rsracing.cz

[spidennis]

Is this a shortened kickstand?...... so a lowered bike maybe? ......

[Indy_WR450]

The side stands are modified for sand and to clear the oversize rear side panel fuel tanks. Suspension and ground clearance are normal.?

[jetdave]

What happend to the 2 wheel drive. Rules, Weight? complexity?

[spidennis]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42112233@N00/sets/

Check out the pics of thumpertalker sunnymex who is doing well in the rally on his 450 Yamaha Mexico bike, even with a broken foot. One tuff guy!

.... and a big congrats to SunnyMex for not only getting to the staring line, but finishing at dakar! check out his flicker site that mikekay found. I don't know where sunnymex ended up on the list of finishers, but just to get on that list is just one heck of an accomplishment!

look at line 60 here:

http://www.dakar.com/2007/DAK/LIVE/us/1300/classement/CGM.html

and only in 66 1/2 hours ...... Go sunnymex!

[steve lemley]

good finish for blue, 1st in the 450 class AGAIN and 5th overall. Honda, you can keep your lil 1000 mile race around Mexico, we got the big one down... Speaking of that, Yamaha if you're listening, please support Baja more, I would love to pit in a factory setting like the Hnda guys do. With your help and involvment we could take both these races over. Come on!!! PIT IN bAJA ;{)

[600ish]

$51,000 and you are all set.

http://www.challengeyamahadakar.com/en/index800.htm

The Dakar kit for the WR450 can be bought seperately

What a great program:ride:

[Indy_WR450]

What happend to the 2 wheel drive. Rules, Weight? complexity?

David Fretigne ran it to victory 2 years ago with 2 wheel drive.

Last year he ran 2 wheel drive on the technical sections only and swapped it out for a stock front end for high speed runs and still won.

This year all the Yamaha's were rear wheel drive and we still won. It seems that it is not worth changing over for just certain days. Reliabilty was not an issue the first year. Fretigne won 2 legs overall the first year with 2 wheel drive.

I think it comes down to a small performance gain versus extra complexity for a long 15 day race.